Adjustable lead control



Nov. 11, 1952' A. E. DRISSNER 2,617,307

ADJUSTABLE LEAD CONTROL Filed Oct. 14, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 VEN TOR.

Nov. 11, 1952 A. E. DRISSNER 7 ADJUSTABLE LEAD CONTRSL Filed Oct. 14, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

Nov. 11, 1952 A. E. DRISSNER 2,617,307

ADJUSTABLE LEAD CONTROL Filed Oct. 14. 1948 s Sheets-Sheet s --I CAM f/PA VEL aienied Nov. 11, 1952 ADJUSTABLE LEAD con'raor.

Alfred E. Drissner, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The National Acme Company, a corporation of Ohio Application October 14, 1948, SerialNo. 54,501

4 Claims.

My invention relates to an adjustable lead control for threading machines in which the threading die is moved axially towards and away from the workpiece being threaded.

Prior to my invention a lead screw has been used to control threading spindles for forward and backward movement in the relation of the threading spindles with the work spindle. When using a lead screw, the lead screw and its associated nut had to be changed for every lead of thread to be cut on the automatic machine. Many machines were provided with a train of gears which drive the lead screw. This train of gears could be changed and other gears of dilferent speeds could be used to drive the lead screw for a diiferent lead of thread. However, with all of these prior methods the automatic machine had to be shut down for a time while the machine was changed for cutting threads of different leads. Thus much time was wasted in these change-overs.

I have invented a lever movement which controls the forward and backward movement of the threading die or spindle in relation to the work spindle. In my lead control an adjusting bolt can be moved in difierent positions to adjust the throw or travel for the die spindle to the exact lead. I have discovered that this double lever movement permits me to get a line adjustment for fine threads or coarse lead for standard or Acme threads without changing a part in the machine. The combination of the two levers with the sliding member or adjusting bolt between the levers set at the right or correct position gives any lead from .166 to 1.333, or a travel .for short threads from 1 to 8 in length with a lead cam. Similarly, with a 1" lead cam the lead can be adjusted from .333 to 2.666 with the same slide and threading spindle travel of 1" to 8" endwi-se. With this simple movement the prior time consuming lead screw or gear train changeovers have been eliminated and thus the time required for new set-ups on the automatic machine has been greatly reduced, thereby reducing the operating cost of the automatic machine.

Therefore, one of the objects of my invention is to provide a lever movement which controls the threading spindles for the forward and backward movement in the relation of the threading spindles with the work spindles.

"Another object of my invention is to provide an adjustable lead control in which a cam driven lever actuates a second lever to reciprocate the threading attachments of the machine.

Still another object of my invention is to pro-- vide an adjustable lead control which can be used to move the thread spindle in many different lengths of endwise travel.

A further object of my invention is to provide an adjustable lead control .to adjust the throw or travel for the threading attachment to the exact lead and without changing a part of the machine.

Other objects and a better understanding of my invention will be obtained by referring to the following specification and claims together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a machine showing the adjustable lead control;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlargement showing the top of a part of the machine of Figure 1 to illustrate the position of the levers in relation to the lead control cam;

Figure 3 is an enlarged and fragmentary elevated view of the control levers;

Figure 4 is a view taken along the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 3 showing the construction of the adjusting bolt; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the adjusting of the levers for different threading operations.

My adjustable lead control for threading spindles is illustrated as being used in an automatic spindle machine. Figure 1 of my drawings illustrates the position of the adjustable lead control l0 in relation to the machine. In'my drawings Figure 2, I illustrate the automatic spindle machine as having lead controls I0 and H0, one on each side of the machine. The lead control It is operated by a cam I5 and the lead control I It by a cam H5. However, since these lead-controls are identical, 1 will describe the operation of lead control H], it being understood that lead control H 0 operates similarly. When the machine is in operation the lead controls are moved in a forward direction at the correct portion'of the work cycle.

The automatic spindle machine illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is a housing I4 supportinga work-supporting spindle H and a threading attachment 12 including a threading die or tap H2 which is aligned with the work supporting spindle. This threading attachment I2 is reciprocally moved forwards and backwards by a slide bar l3 to move the die or tap ll2 toward and away from the work-supporting spindle 1.1 to thread a work piece which is supported in the spindle II. The threading attachment I2 may be of any suitable attachment design, such for example as illustrated in Patent No. 2,033,490, and is fastened to the end of the slide bar I3 by threaded means. The slide bar is slidably supported in the housing I4 of the machine and extends parallel to the axis of the work-supporting spindle. The housing I4 of the machine also includes a cam shaft I6 (see Figure 2) which extends substantially parallel to the line of movement of the threading attachment and slide bar I3 and carries the lead cams I and H5.

The adjustable lead control III generally comprises a die slide lever l1 and a cam roll lever I8 interengaged by an adjusting bolt or member I9, as best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The die slide lever I1 has a pivot portion 20 on one end thereof and a slide bar engaging portion 2I on the other end thereof. This slide bar engaging portion 2I may be a small roller turnably mounted on the side of the die slide lever. A pivot bracket 22 mounted on the machine housing I4 at a first mounting position I 22 spaced from the path of movement of the slide bar I3 pivotally engages the pivot portion 20 to support the die slide lever I1. I have preferably provided the slide bar I3 with a bracket 23, having a groove 24 extending in a direction transversely of the slide bar I3. The slide bar engaging portion 2| of the die slide lever I1 moves transversely of the line the movement of the slide bar I3 in this groove 2I as it reciprocates the slide bar to move it forwards and backwards.

The cam roll lever I8 is pivotally mounted on the machine housing I4 in a second mounting position I25 by pivot rod 25 extending through one end of the cam roll lever I8 and into the machine housing I4. The other end of the cam roll lever I8 is provided with a cam engagement member 25 which engages the lead control cam I5 on cam shaft I6. This cam engagement member 26 is preferably a small roller turnably mounted on the end of the lever. In Figure 3 of my drawings I best illustrate that the cam roll lever I8 is pivotally mounted on the machine housing in the second mounting position I25 and between the pivotal mounting of the die slide lever I1 in the first mounting position I22 and the slide bar I3. I have also provided the cam roll lever IS with spaced opposing surfaces 21 on the side thereof which is next adjacent the die slide lever I1. These spaced opposing surfaces 21 are substantially parallel and extend longitudinally of the lever I8.

The adjusting stud or bolt I9 extends through an elongated opening 28 in the die slide lever I1 and between these opposing surfaces 21. This elongated opening 28 permits an adjustment of the adjusting stud I9 to any one of many fastening positions which extend longitudinally of the die slide lever I1. The adjusting stud bolt or connecting member I9 may be tightly secured to the die slide lever I1 and extends into the space between the opposing surfaces 21 of the die slide lever I8,

In Figure 5 I illustrate a cross-sectional View along the line 55 of Figure 3 showing the detailed construction of the adjusting bolt I9. I have found it desirable to use a rectangular washer 29, having serrations on the side thereof which engages the surface of the die slide lever I 1. The die slide lever I1 has complementary serrations 35 extending along both sides of the elongated opening 28 and cooperating with the serrations on the rectangular washer 29. The

adjusting bolt I9 extends through this washer 29 through the elongated opening 28 in the die slide lever I1 and extends into the space between the opposing surfaces 21 of the cam roll lever I8. These cooperating serrations prevent the bolt I9 from sliding longitudinally of the die slide lever I1 when the bolt is tightened on the lever. I have found it advisable to also provide this washer 29 with rack teeth 36 on the side edge thereof and to provide the die slide lever I1 with longitudinally spaced bearing openings 31. A small gear On a handle may be bearinged in the bearing opening 31 and gearingly engaged with the rack teeth 39 to move the washer 29 and the adjusting bolt I9 therewith longitudinally of the die slide lever I1. When the bolt I9 is loosened and this geared handle rotated in the bearing openings the washer 29 is moved along the serrations from one position to another. An index point 38 is provided on the washer 29 and cooperates with graduations 39 on the lever I1.

In Figure 6 of my drawings I illustrate a diagram of movement of the parts of my adjustable lead control III. In this diagram the are 33 represents the angular movement of the cam engagement member 26 pivotally about the pivot mounting of the cam roll lever III. The center of the are 39 is at the second mounting position I25. Similarly, the arc 3I represents the angular movement of the slide bar engaging portion 2I of the die slide lever I1. The center of the arc 3I is at the first mounting position I22 or he pivotal mounting of the die slide lever I1. The cam I5 illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4, moves the cam engagement member 26 on the are 30. When the cam I5 urges the cam engagement member 26 to the right, the adjusting stud I9, being secured to the die slide lever I1, slides between the opposing surfaces 21 of the cam roll lever I8. As the adjusting stud bolt or member I9 slides between these opposing surfaces 21 of this lever it will pivotally move the die slide lever I1 to the right and thereby slide the slide bar I3 to the right. In Figure 1 it is seen that moving the slide bar I3 to the right moves the threading attachment I2 forwards or towards the Work spindle II. Likewise moving the slide bar to the left in Figure 1 moves the threading attachment backwards or away from the work spindle II.

In observing Figure 6 it is seen that different adjustments of the adjusting stud bolt or member I9 to fasten it to the lever in one of the many fastening positions will provide different lengths of travel of the slide bar I3. For example when the adjusting stud is in the position illustrated the length of travel of the slide bar is much greater than the length of travel of the slide bar would be if the adjusting stud were fastened at the opposite end of the slot 28 of the die slide lever I1.

In Figure 6 I have labeled the different distances according to their relationship to the movement of the lever control. The total travel indicates the total linear movement or longitudinal travel of the slide bar I3 in one direction. The distance marked cam travel indicates the distance the cam roll or engagement member 26 is moved by the cam. As an example, the roll travel or movement of the cam engagement member 26 is 3" on a particular machine. With a 3" cam roll travel, and the adjusting bolt at the position indicated, this total travel is 8". The linear movement of the slide bar I3 and, thus of the die or tap 1 I2 while threading the work piece, is indicated as the working cycle lead. The working cycle lead is the part of the total travel o'f the slide bar, and thus of the threading attachment, in which the work piece is being threaded. With a 1" lead cam, any working cycle lead from .333 to 2.666 can be obtained, with this slide travel of l to 8", which is the endwise travel of the threading spindle. With a ,42" cam lead any working cycle lead from .166" to 1.33" can be obtained. The drawings show the lead controls I0 and H0 as being operated in relation with each other so that they will be timed with the cycle of the automatic spindle machine, so that the threading operation can be performed during the workingcycle of the other tool slides. This invention gives a very fine adjustment for the lead of the die or tap to a particular point between .333 and 2.666 for a 1'' lead cam, or between .166 and 1.3333 for lead cam. The lead controls are so flexible that in many operations no lead screw or lead nut is required. The adjustable lead control greatly reduces the cost of tooling and setup in both time and money for automatic machines wherein the machines are used on many short runs. It is understood that in referring to longitudinal or sliding movement of the threading attachments by Way of example that any other machine tool attachment may be fastened to the slide bar and thus moved by the lead control.

Although I have described my invention in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and sc e of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable lead control for a machine having a threading spindle connected to a slide bar reciprocally mounted in the machine housing and actuated along a path by a lead control cam, said adjustable lead control comprising, a bracket fixedly attached to said slide bar, a, first pivot support mounted on said machine housing at a distance from said path, a slide lever having first and second ends, means for pivoting said first end in said first pivot support, means for interconnecting said second end of said lever and said bracket to reciprocate said slide bar in accordance with pivotal movement of said slide lever, surfaces on said slide lever intermediate said ends defining longitudinally disposed first slot means, a second pivot support mounted on said machine housing, a cam lever having first and second ends, means for pivoting said first end of said cam lever to said second pivot support, a cam follower on the second end of said cam lever to connect to said lead control cam for pivotal actuation thereby, surfaces on said cam lever intermediate said ends defining longitudinally disposed second slot means, a pivot bolt having a threaded connection with a nut, and a washer having two parallel surfaces, said pivot bolt adapted to pivotally interconnect said levers at any adjustable point along said first slot means, said parallel surfaces of said washer being disposed in engagement with the surfaces defining said first slot means.

2. An adjustable lead control for a machine having a threading spindle connected to a slide bar reciprocally mounted in the machine housing and actuated along a path by a lead control cam,

said adjustable lead control comprising, a bracket fixedly attached to said slide bar, a first pivot support mounted on said machine housing at a first distancefrom said path, a slide lever having first and secondends, means for pivoting said first end in said first pivot support, means for interconnecting said second end of said lever and said bracket to reciprocate said slide bar in accordance with pivotal movement of said slide lever, surfaces on said slide lever intermediate said ends defining longitudinally disposed first slot means, a second pivot support mounted on said machine housing disposed on the same side of said path as said first pivot support at a secand distance from said path considerably less than said first distance, a cam lever having first and second ends, means for pivoting said first endof said cam lever to said second pivot support, a cam follower on the second end of said cam lever to connect to said lead control cam for pivotal actuation thereby, surfaces on said cam lever intermediate said ends defining longitudinally disposed second slot means, and a pivot bolt having a threaded connection with a nut, said pivot bolt adapted to pivotally interconnect said levers at any adjustable point along one of said first and second slot means.

3. An adjustable lead control for a machine having a threading spindle connected to a slide bar reciprocally mounted in the machine housing and actuated along a first path by a lead control cam, said adjustable lead control comprising, a bracket fixedly attached to said slide bar, a first pivot support mounted on said machine housing at a first distance from said first path along a perpendicular thereto, a slide lever having first and second ends, means for pivoting said first end in said first pivot support, means for interconnecting said lever second end and said bracket to reciprocate said slide bar in accordance with pivotal movement of said slide lever, surfaces on said slide lever intermediate said ends defining longitudinally disposed first slot means, serrations alongside said first slot means, a second pivot support mounted on said machine housing on the perpendicular from said first pivot support to said first path and disposed on the same side of said path as said first pivot support at a second distance from said first path considerably less than said first distance, a cam lever having first and second ends, means for pivoting said first end of said cam lever to said second pivot support, a cam follower on the second end of said cam lever to connect to said lead control cam for pivotal actuation thereby, surfaces on said cam lever intermediate said ends defining longitudinally disposed second slot means, a pivot bolt having a threaded connection with a, nut, and a washer having two parallel surfaces and having serrations on one face thereof, said pivot bolt adapted to pivotally interconnect said levers at any adjustable point along said first slot means with the serrated face of said Washer clamped against the serrations on said slide lever to prevent relative sliding movement of said pivot bolt and said slide lever, said parallel surfaces of said washer being disposed in engagement with the surfaces defining said first slot means.

4. An adjustable lead control for a machine having athreading spindle comiected to a slide bar reciprocally mounted in the machine housing and actuated along a first path by a lead control cam, said adjustable lead control comprising, a bracket fixedly attached to said slide bar, surfaces on said bracket defining first slot means having 7 an axis substantially perpendicular to said first path, a first pivot support mounted on said machine housing at a first distance from said first path along a perpendicular thereto, a slide lever having first and second ends, means for pivoting said first end in said first pivot support, means for pivotally and slidably connecting said second end to said bracket at said slot means, surfaces on said slide lever intermediate said ends defining longitudinally disposed second slot means, graduations alongside said second slot means, serrations alongside said second slot means, a second pivot support mounted on said machine housing on the perpendicular from said first pivot support to said first path and disposed on the same side of said path as said first pivot support at a second distance from said first path considerably less than said first distance, a cam lever having first and second ends, means for pivoting said first end of said cam lever to said second pivot support, a cam follower on the second end of said cam lever to connect to said lead control cam for pivotal actuation thereby, surfaces on said cam lever intermediate said ends defining longitudinally disposed third slot means, a pivot bolt having a threaded connection with a nut, a wash- 8 er having two parallel surfaces and having serrations on one face thereof, said pivot bolt adapted to pivotally interconnect said levers at any adjustable point along said second slot means with the serrated face of said washer clamped against the serrations on said slide lever to prevent relative sliding movement of said pivot bolt and said slide lever, said parallel surfaces of said washer being disposed in engagement with the surfaces defining said second slot means, and an index point on said washer cooperating with said graduations.

ALFRED E. DRISSNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 651,828 Copland June 19, 1900 928,382 Harrison July 20, 1909 1,502,467 Glosh July 22, 1924 1,927,307 Carter Sept. 19, 1933 2.314,073 Campbell Mar. 16, 1943 

